Key-ring



Sept. 22, 1936. V c, WEIBLE 2,055,163

KEY RING Filed May 28, 1955 Patented Sept. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 28, 1935, Serial No. 23,919

In France February 19, 1935 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a new or improved key-ring of circular form and having a smooth surface on the circumference. The key ring is provided with a gap for the insertion of keys, the

gap being bridged by a spring tongue. According to the invention the spring tongue is attached to the circular ring at one end and at the other end presses resiliently against the ring. The spring may be attached to the ring by rivetting,

screwing, soldering, sweating, or like means, and is preferably mounted on the inner face of the ring. Alternatively the spring may be attached to the ring by providing the ring with a groove in its inner face in which the spring, which in this case is annular, is held by the slightly inwardly extending sides of the groove. The securing of the spring in the groove may be effected by closing in the sides of the groove slightly after the spring is introduced or the sides of the groove may be closed in initially and the spring is inserted from the gap in a circumferential direction.

Two practical forms of key-ring in accordance with the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of a ring having the spring held in a groove.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan of a ring having the spring rivetted in position.

Figure 4 is a cross-section of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan showing the spring being opened by the insertion of a key.

Figure 6 is a plan showing how the spring is opened when withdrawing a key.

In the drawing a is the body of the key-ring,

b is the gap for the insertion of keys, and c is the spring which has a part at forming a spring tongue by which the gap is bridged. The spring in the example illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 5, and

6 is housed in a groove e in the inner face of the ring while in the example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 it is secured at one end to the key-ring by means of rivets f.

The attachment of an article such as a key to the ring is effected as follows: The key 9 is placed within the outer surface 2' of its loop h in the gap 1) and is pressed against the spring tongue 01. This moves the spring tongue inwardly so that the gap b in the ring is freed and the loop h of the key can he slid on to the ring in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 5. When the loop of the key has passed the end of the spring tongue the latter springs back into its original position owing to its resilience, and the ring is thus closed and the key is securely held on it.

In removing the key the inner surface k of the loop h is brought over the spring tongue at and a light pressure of the surface lc against the spring tongue 01 again frees the gap in the ring and allows the loop h. of the key to he slid out again.

The inner face of the ring in the example illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 may be fiat as shown in the drawing to facilitate the attachment of the spring tongue or may be flattened only at the point of attachment.

What I claim is:

1. A key-ring comprising a rigid circular ring having a smooth surface on the circumference and provided on its inner face with a groove, said ring having a gap therein, and a spring tongue bridging the gap and fixed on one side of the gap in the groove and on the other side entered freely into the groove.

2. A key-ring according to claim 1, in which the spring tongue is held in the groove on one side of the gap by pressing on the sides of the groove after the spring has been introduced into place.

CARL WEIBLE. 

